Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan May 28, 2004 Prepared for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council Lead Writer M. Cathy Nowak, Cat Tracks Wildlife Consulting Subbasin Team Leader Lyle Kuchenbecker, Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary...............................................................................................................12 2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Description of Planning Entity ...................................................................................... 12 2.2. List of Participants......................................................................................................... 13 2.3. Stakeholder Involvement Process.................................................................................. 14 2.4. Overall Approach to the Planning Activity ................................................................... 14 2.5. Process and Schedule for Revising/Updating the Plan.................................................. 15 3. Subbasin Assessment ............................................................................................................ 15 3.1. Subbasin Overview........................................................................................................ 15 3.1.1. General Description............................................................................................... 15 3.1.2. Subbasin Water Resources .................................................................................... 23 3.1.3. Hydrologic and Ecologic Trends in the Subbasin ................................................. 32 3.1.4. Regional Context................................................................................................... 34 3.2. Focal Species Characterization and Status .................................................................... 36 3.2.1 Native/non-native Wildlife, Plant and Resident/anadromous Fish of Ecological Importance............................................................................................................................. 36 3.2.2 Focal Species Selection ......................................................................................... 47 3.2.3. Aquatic Focal Species Population Delineation and Characterization ................... 48 3.2.4. Terrestrial Focal Species Population Delineation and Characterization ............... 97 3.2.5 Plant Focal Species..................................................................................................... 126 3.3. Out-of Subbasin Effects .............................................................................................. 128 3.3.1. Aquatic ................................................................................................................ 128 3.3.2. Terrestrial ............................................................................................................ 131 3.4 Environment/Population Relationships ....................................................................... 133 3.4.1 Aquatic ................................................................................................................ 133 3.4.2 Terrestrial ............................................................................................................ 133 3.4.3 Interspecies Relationships ................................................................................... 190 3.5. Identification and Analysis of Limiting Factors/Conditions ....................................... 191 3.5.1. Description of Historic Factors Leading to Decline of Focal Species/Ecological Function-Process – Aquatic................................................................................................. 191 3.5.2. Description of Historic Factors Leading to Decline of Focal Species/Ecological Function-Process – Terrestrial............................................................................................. 203 3.6. Synthesis/Interpretation............................................................................................... 204 3.6.1. Subbasin-wide Working Hypothesis – Aquatic................................................... 204 3.6.2. Terrestrial Assessment Synthesis ........................................................................ 206 3.6.3. Desired Future Conditions – Aquatic .................................................................. 222 3.6.4. Desired Future Conditions – Terrestrial .............................................................. 222 3.6.5. Opportunities ....................................................................................................... 222 4. Inventory of Existing Activities (Private, Local, State, Federal) ........................................ 222 4.1. Existing Legal Protection ............................................................................................ 223 4.2. Existing Plans .............................................................................................................. 226 4.3. Existing Management Programs.................................................................................. 230 4.4. Existing Restoration and Conservation Projects ......................................................... 231 5/26/04 9:17 AM 2 4.5. Gap Assessment of Existing Protections, Plans, Programs and Projects..................... 255 5. Management Plan ................................................................................................................ 257 5.1. Vision for the Subbasin ............................................................................................... 258 5.2 Aquatic Species and Habitats ...................................................................................... 258 5.2.1 Habitats................................................................................................................ 258 5.2.2 Fish Production/Population Strategies................................................................ 264 5.3. Terrestrial Species and Habitats .................................................................................. 267 5.4 Consistency with ESA/CWA Requirements ............................................................... 269 5.5 Research, Monitoring and Evaluation ......................................................................... 269 5.5.1 Aquatic Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation.......................................................... 269 5.5.2 Terrestrial Research Monitoring and Evaluation................................................. 290 6. Appendices .......................................................................................................................... 290 6.1 Appendix 1: References .............................................................................................. 290 6.2 Appendix 2: Species Tables ........................................................................................ 317 6.3 Appendix 3: Comprehensive Focal Species Accounts ................................................ 351 6.3.1 Columbia Spotted Frog........................................................................................ 351 6.3.2 Great Blue Heron................................................................................................. 366 6.3.3 Bald Eagle ........................................................................................................... 376 6.3.4 White-headed Woodpecker ................................................................................. 386 6.3.5 American Marten................................................................................................. 393 6.3.6 Olive-sided Flycatcher......................................................................................... 396 6.3.7 Mountain Goat..................................................................................................... 401 6.3.8 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep ......................................................................... 411 6.3.9 Western Meadowlark........................................................................................... 422 6.3.10 Sage Sparrow....................................................................................................... 429 6.3.11 Rocky Mountain Elk............................................................................................ 440 6.3.12 Yellow Warbler ................................................................................................... 444 6.3.13 American Beaver................................................................................................. 449 6.4 Appendix 4: Data Sources ........................................................................................... 452 6.5 Appendix 5: Mangement Plans and Programs Relevant to Activities in the Grande Ronde Subbasin....................................................................................................................... 454 6.6 Appendix 6: Complete Grande Ronde Subbasin Project Inventory by Salmonid Population Units...................................................................................................................... 462 6.7 Appendix 7: Species of Interest to the Tribes of the Grande Ronde Subbasin............ 463 6.7.1 Species Recognized by Tribes – Submitted by the Nez Perce Tribe................... 463